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Mountains: Resources/Tutorials

Ok, so I am working on a map of a continent and I want to have create my mountains from a space viewpoint instead of the side view. I am working on the map in GIMP using RobA's tutorial, but was looking for a different map style. What I would like to know is if anyone has any pointers or references to doing a good overhead mountain view with shaded relief going down from a nice ridge line in an artistic style.

I "know" I have seen an example close to what i am trying to do, but I cannot seem to find a link

Though I am using GIMP, I would be more than willing to use any other free software as long as the results could be imported back into GIMP for adding into a layer that I could put new layers on top of...

I could never get my top-down mountains looking ridged enough until RobA gave me this cool and fairly simple work around. Use a b/w height map and colour select to select an area corresponding to the area where your mountains really start to slope, making sure you use some feather (between 10 and 20). Then add another layer and apply a gradient to the still selected area. The gradient should be black/white with white at the points, using the shaped angular gradient setting. If you want steeper slobes you can alter the curve. Then make the layer with the gradient invisible. Then you select the layer with your terrain on it and apply a bump map, using the gradient layer as the bump. You should get fairly passable ridges.

I could never get my top-down mountains looking ridged enough until RobA gave me this cool and fairly simple work around. Use a b/w height map and colour select to select an area corresponding to the area where your mountains really start to slope, making sure you use some feather (between 10 and 20). Then add another layer and apply a gradient to the still selected area. The gradient should be black/white with white at the points, using the shaped angular gradient setting. If you want steeper slobes you can alter the curve. Then make the layer with the gradient invisible. Then you select the layer with your terrain on it and apply a bump map, using the gradient layer as the bump. You should get fairly passable ridges.

Torq

Hmm... any chance you could be persuaded to throw up a quick tut with screenshots in the next few weeks.